The Simpsons/Alone Again, Natura-diddly

Alone Again, Natura-diddly
11x14
Airdate	February 13, 2000
Production Number	BABF10
Written by	Ian Maxtone-Graham
Directed by	Jim Reardon
← 11x13 Saddlesore Galactica	11x15 → Missionary: Impossible
The Simpsons — Season Eleven

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Alone Again, Natura-diddly is the fourteenth episode of the eleventh season of The Simpsons, and the two-hundred and fortieth episode overall.

The episode centers on the death of Maude Flanders, in an accident at Springfield Speedway during a NASCAR race, leaving Ned and their two sons, Rod and Todd, to cope and a well-meaning Homer to try to help his neighbor.

Guest Stars: Frank Welker (Parrot), Marcia Mitzman-Gaven (Maude Flanders, Diane), Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel), Pamela Hayden (Rod Flanders), Shawn Colvin (Rachel Jordan), Tress MacNeille (Agnes Skinner, Various)

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Despite being told in the Tracey Ullmann-era short "The Funeral" (aired 12-1/2 years earlier) that they would never be allowed to go to a funeral again, Bart, Lisa and Maggie are among the mourners at Maude's funeral. Here, Bart behaves respectfully, unlike the short where after cackling with glee in anticipation of viewing a dead body he faints, and later where he attempts to "direct" the pallbearers carrying the casket to Hubert's grave site. Bart, Lisa and Maggie were also mourners at Frank Grimes' funeral in Season 8's "Homer's Enemy" and multiple other episodes involving a funeral.

Characters

• Maude Flanders: The husband of Ned Flanders, and mother of 10-year-old Rod and 6-year-old Todd. While often portrayed as a stereotypical devout Christian who campaigns against negative influences of society, she is a loving mother and wife to her family. She was co-owner of the Leftorium with Ned and helped with its business record-keeping, and spent a lot of time volunteering at Springfield Evangelical Church, both in community missions and Bible study. She had occassionally shown she has trouble with alcohol consumption; although she rarely drank, when she did she lets her hair down a little too much. Ned dearly loved Maude and her death, following a tragic accident at Springfield Speedway, comes as a complete shock to him and their sons, as well as the community.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• "Alone Again, Naturally": The episode title is a play on the title of a 1972 song by Gilbert O'Sullvan, which also has a somber tone to it.

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